Air traffic controllers call press conference

The Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association has called a press conference for 9:30 this morning.

It follows a Supreme Court order barring them from further protest action.

The air traffic controllers went on a sick out on Saturday to press their employer, the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, for a wage increase.

The sick out by the controllers affected flights for at least one air carrier.

A senior official at the Ministry of Labour says the court’s ruling has been formally communicated to the executive of the Air Traffic Controllers' Association of Jamaica, which represented about 94 per cent of the industry.

While noting that the labour ministry is ready to call reconciliation talks, the official said it is watching to see what will happen this morning before it acts any further.

Up to last night, we were unable to reach association president Kurt Solomon or any member of the executive for a comment on the Supreme Court order.

Air traffic controllers have maintained that they will not accept a wage freeze.

Director-General of the JCAA, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby says the agency remains open for dialogue on the wage claim.

Lieutenant Colonel Derby says the agency has to operate within the government’s wage restraint for the public sector.

However, he says the agency is prepared to offer non-cash alternatives.